Paper feed cassette

ABSTRACT

A paper feed cassette includes a second press member for pressing the center in a width direction of an upper surface of a paper. The second press member integrally includes a flat portion mounted on the lower surface of the lid member, an inclined portion integrally bonded with the flat portion on a region other than an end in a lower surface of the flat portion, extending in an oblique direction toward an inner bottom surface of the cassette body, and having at least an elastically deformable bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flat portion and a press portion provided on a forward end of the inclined portion, and the press portion is brought into contact with the inner bottom surface of the cassette body when the lid member is arranged on the upper portion of the cassette body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette, and moreparticularly, it relates to a paper feed cassette mounted on an imagegenerating apparatus.

2. Description of the Background Art

Paper feed cassettes mounted on image generating apparatuses are knownin general, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos.2002-332122, 2003-276863, 2004-83175 and 5-229676 (1993), for example.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-332122 disclosesthe paper feed cassette comprising a width approaching member (platespring) pressing a side surface of a paper parallel to a paper feeddirection of the paper stored in a paper tray to approach the paper toone side of the paper tray, and a rotatable lid covering an uppersurface of the paper tray, in which a press member (plate spring)pressing a vicinity of both ends in a width direction of an uppersurface of the paper is conceivably bonded to the inside of the lid. Inthe paper feed cassette, the press member (plate spring) pressing theupper surface of the paper against the inside of the lid is constitutedby a flat portion mounted on the lid, a press portion pressing the uppersurface of the paper when the lid is closed, and one inclined portionlinking the flat portion and the press portion. A bonding portionbetween the inclined portion and the flat portion is provided on a firstend of the flat portion.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-276863 disclosesthe paper feed cassette comprising wall portions (curl forcing portions)provided on ends of the paper tray storing a paper in a directionperpendicular to a paper feed direction of the paper, and a press member(plate spring) pulled up to an center in a width direction of a papertray covering an upper surface of the paper and pressing the uppersurface of the paper. The paper feed cassette is so formed as toproperly curl the paper (form a curl) by pressing the ends of the paperdownward with the wall portions (curl forcing portions) to feed the samein a paper feed roller while the press member (plate spring) properlypressing the upper surface of the paper downward is provided in order toavoid an excessive curl. The press plate and the spring member (coilspring) for urging the paper stored in the paper tray against the paperfeed roller on a device body side are provided on the device body side,and the press plate and the spring member (coil spring) on the devicebody side press both the wall portions (curl forcing portions) and thepress member (plate spring) on a paper tray side when the paper feedcassette is mounted on the device body.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-83175 disclosesthe paper feed cassette comprising a first press member (plate spring)pressing a side surface of a stored paper against an inner side surfaceof a paper tray to approach the paper to one side of the paper tray, anda second press member (plate spring) integrally formed on right and leftinner side surfaces of the paper tray and pressing an upper surface ofthe paper. The paper feed cassette is so formed as to upwardly rotate apushing up plate for urging the stored paper against a paper feed rolleron a device body side for bringing the paper into contact with thesecond press member (plate spring) on the upper surface of the paper inthe case where the paper tray is mounted on the device body.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-229676 disclosesthe paper feed cassette comprising a paper tray, a rotatable lidcovering an upper surface of a paper tray, and a roller rotating withcarrying the paper while being in contact with an center in a widthdirection of an upper surface of a paper inside the lid at a small area.In the paper feed cassette, a spring member (coil spring) and a pushingup plate for pressing the paper stored in the plate paper tray against aroller mounted on a lid are provided on a bottom portion of the papertray.

In the conventional paper feed cassette proposed in the aforementionedJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-332122, however, the press member(plate spring) pressing the upper surface in the vicinity of the end inthe width direction of the paper is integrally formed on the left andright inner surfaces of the paper tray, whereby the center in the widthdirection of the paper is not pressed, and the paper isdisadvantageously likely to be curved (warped) at the center in thewidth direction thereof. Thus, the paper feed cassette does noteliminate the warpage in the width direction of the paper, whereby thepaper is disadvantageously likely to be carried in a direction obliqueto a carrying direction due to the warpage in the width direction of thepaper. In the paper feed cassette proposed in the aforementionedJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-332122, in the case where the lidis closed in a state where a large number of papers are stored in thepaper tray, loads from the papers and the above thereof is applied tothe press member (plate spring) by coming into contact with the papers,and the inclined portion is further warped in a fallen direction,thereby causing deformation. In this case, in the case where the pressmember is bonded to the inside of the lid with a bonding layer, bendingmoment occurs in the bonding portion between the flat portion and theinclined portion of the press member (plate spring) about the bondingportion of an end of the flat portion of the press member (plate spring)and the inclined portion as a central axis, and the flat portion isalways urged in a direction (downward) for peeling from the inside ofthe lid. Thus, in the case where the press member presses a large numberof papers, the flat portion disadvantageously peels and comes off from alower surface of the lid as time advances.

In the conventional paper feed cassette proposed in the aforementionedJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-276863, the press member (platespring) pressing the upper surface of the paper suppresses the excessivecurl (warpage) in the width direction of the paper and does noteliminate the warpage in the width direction of the paper, whereby thepaper is disadvantageously likely to be carried in the direction obliqueto the carrying direction due to the warpage in the width direction ofthe paper.

In the conventional paper feed cassette proposed in the aforementionedJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-83175, the second press member(plate spring) pressing the upper surface in the vicinity of the end inthe width direction of the paper is integrally formed on the right andleft inner side surfaces of the paper tray, whereby the curvature(warpage) is disadvantageously likely to occur in the center in thewidth direction of the paper. Thus, the paper is disadvantageouslylikely to be carried in the direction oblique to the carrying directiondue to the warpage in the width direction of the paper.

In the conventional paper feed cassette proposed in the aforementionedJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-229676, the spring member (coilspring) and the pushing up plate for pressing the paper stored in thepaper tray against the roller mounted on the lid is required in additionto the roller, whereby the number of components is disadvantageouslyincreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve theaforementioned problems, and an object of the present invention is toprovide a paper feed cassette capable of suppressing curvature (warpage)in a width direction of a paper for inhibiting the paper from beingcarried in an oblique direction, and inhibiting a press member pressingthe paper from coming off from a paper feed cassette also in a state ofa large number of the papers, while inhibiting the number of componentsfrom increase.

A paper feed cassette according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises a cassette body mounted on an image generatingapparatus including a paper feed roller and storing a paper, a firstpress member provided on at least a first side surface inside thecassette body and pressing a side surface of the paper when the paper isstored, a lid member arranged on an upper portion of the cassette body,and a second press member provided independently of the lid member,mounted on a lower surface of the lid member, and pressing the vicinityof the center in a width direction of an upper surface of the paperstored in the cassette body, wherein the second press member integrallyincludes a flat portion mounted on the lower surface of the lid member,an inclined portion integrally bonded with the flat portion on a regionother than an end in a lower surface of the flat portion, extending inan oblique direction toward an inner bottom surface of the cassettebody, and having at least an elastically deformable bonding portionbetween the inclined portion and the flat portion, and a press portionprovided on a forward end of the inclined portion, and the press portionis brought into contact with the inner bottom surface of the cassettebody when the lid member is arranged on the upper portion of thecassette body.

In the paper feed cassette according to the first aspect, as hereinabovedescribed, the second press member integrally includes the inclinedportion integrally bonded with the flat portion on the region other thanthe end in the lower surface of the flat portion mounted on the lowersurface of the lid member, extending in an oblique direction toward aninner bottom surface of the cassette body, and having at least anelastically deformable bonding portion between the inclined portion andthe flat portion, whereby in the case where bending moment occurs aboutthe bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flat portion ofthe second press member as a central axis with reaction from the paperswhen the second press member presses the papers in a state of a largenumber of the papers, a region of the flat portion in which an angleformed by the inclined portion and the flat portion is an acute anglecan generate reaction having a direction to counteract theaforementioned bending moment. Thus, also in the case of a large numberof the papers, the flat portion can be inhibited from peeling and comingoff from the lower surface of the lid member. The second press member isso formed as to press the vicinity of the center in the width directionof the upper surface of the paper stored in the cassette body, wherebythe second press member can press the center in the width direction ofthe upper surface of the paper, and hence curvature (warpage) in thewidth direction of the paper can be effectively suppressed. Thus, thepaper can be inhibited from being carried in the oblique direction dueto the warpage in the width direction of the paper. In addition, thesecond press member integrally includes the flat portion mounted on thelower surface of the lid member, the inclined portion integrally bondedwith the flat portion on the region other than the end in the lowersurface of the flat portion, and the press portion provided on theforward end of the inclined portion, and the press portion is so formedas to come into contact with the inner bottom surface of the cassettebody when the lid member is located on an upper portion of the cassettebody. Thus, no push up mechanism for bringing the upper surface of thepaper into contact with the press portion may be provided below thepaper, whereby the number of components can be inhibited from increase.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the press portion is preferably so formed as to have a substantiallyL-shaped section and linearly press the paper with a corner of theL-shape. According to this structure, the contact area between the paperand the press portion can be reduced, thereby allowing reduce infrictional resistance between the paper and the press portion. Thus, itis possible to suppress a paper feed error caused by the frictionalresistance between the paper and the press portion in paper feeding,thereby allowing smooth paper feeding.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the flat portion of the second press member is preferably mounted on thelower surface of the lid member with an adhesive layer. According tothis structure, the second press member can be easily mounted on the lidmember.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the inclined portion is preferably bonded at the substantial center ofthe flat portion. According to this structure, it is possible toincrease the area of the region generating the reaction having thedirection to counteract the bending moment in pressing the paper withthe second press member. Thus, the flat portion can be reliablyinhibited from peeling and coming off from the lower surface of the lidmember.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the flat portion of the second press member preferably includes a firstflat portion on the right and a second flat portion on the left, betweenwhich a bonding line between the flat portion and the inclined portionis a boundary line, and the second flat portion is preferably formed byproviding a U-shaped cutout portion in a prescribed region of a bondingportion between the first flat portion and the inclined portion andfolding back an inner region of the U-shaped cutout portion of the firstflat portion along the bonding line of the bonding portion. According tothis structure, a structure in which the inclined portion is integrallybonded on the region other than the end in the lower surface of the flatportion can be easily obtained.

In this case, the second press member preferably includes a supportportion integrally coupled with the first flat portion on an end of thefirst flat portion, extending in an oblique direction toward theinclined portion, and supporting the inclined portion. According to thisstructure, the inclined portion of the second press member is supportedby the support portion, thereby improving rigidity of the inclinedportion. Thus, in the case where the second press member presses thepapers especially in a state of a large number of the papers,displacement (deforming degree) of the inclined portion in the bondingportion between the inclined portion and the first flat portion can bereduced, whereby a basic form of the inclined portion can be easilyheld.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flat portion ofthe second press member is preferably so formed as to have a thicknesslarger than those of the inclined portion and the flat portion.According to this structure, the mechanical strength of the bondingportion is improved, whereby the bonding portion can be inhibited frombreaking also in the case where stress is applied to the bonding portiondue to the deformation of the inclined portion when the press portion ofthe second press member presses the paper.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the second press member may be mounted on the lower surface of the lidmember such that the inclined portion of the second press member isinclined from the bonding portion between the inclined portion and theflat portion toward a direction opposite to a paper feed direction ofthe paper.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,an engaging portion engaging with the flat portion of the second pressmember is preferably integrally provided on the lower surface of the lidmember. According to this structure, the second press member can bemounted on the lid member by engaging the flat portion of the secondpress member with the engaging portion of the lid member withoutincreasing the number of the component.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the first aspect,the press portion of the second press member is preferably arrangedsubstantially on a line of action of pressing force in pressing thepaper with the first press member in plan view. According to thisstructure, the first press member can press the paper in the widthdirection and the second press member can press the upper surface of thepaper along the line of action of the pressing force of the first pressmember in pressing the paper. Therefore, curvature (warpage) in thewidth direction of the paper can be reliably suppressed. Thus, the papercan be reliably inhibited from being carried in the oblique directiondue to the warpage in the width direction of the paper.

A paper feed cassette according to a second aspect of the presentinvention comprises a cassette body mounted on an image generatingapparatus including a paper feed roller and storing a paper, a lidmember arranged on an upper portion of the cassette body, a first pressmember provided on at least a first side surface inside the cassettebody and pressing a side surface of the paper when the paper is stored,and further comprises a second press member provided independently ofthe lid member, mounted on a lower surface of the lid member, andpressing the vicinity of the center in a width direction of an uppersurface of the paper stored in the cassette body, wherein the secondpress member integrally includes a flat portion mounted on the lowersurface of the lid member, an inclined portion integrally bonded withthe flat portion on a region other than an end in a lower surface of theflat portion, extending in an oblique direction toward an inner bottomsurface of the cassette body, and having at least an elasticallydeformable bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flatportion, and a press portion provided on a forward end of the inclinedportion, the press portion is brought into contact with the inner bottomsurface of the cassette body when the lid member is arranged on theupper portion of the cassette body, the press portion is so formed as tohave a substantially L-shaped section and linearly press the paper witha corner of the L-shape, the flat portion of the second press member ismounted on the lower surface of the lid member with an adhesive layer,and the inclined portion is bonded at the substantial center of the flatportion.

The paper feed cassette according to the second aspect, as hereinabovedescribed, the second press member integrally includes the inclinedportion integrally bonded with the flat portion on the region other thanthe end in the lower surface of the flat portion mounted on the lowersurface of the corner member, extending in an oblique direction towardan inner bottom surface of the cassette body, and having at least anelastically deformable bonding portion between the inclined portion andthe flat portion, whereby in the case where bending moment occurs aboutthe bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flat portion ofthe second press member as a central axis with reaction from the paperswhen the second press member presses the papers in a state of a largenumber of the papers, a region of the flat portion in which an angleformed by the inclined portion and the flat portion is an acute anglecan generate reaction having a direction to counteract theaforementioned bending moment. Thus, also in the case of a large numberof the papers, the flat portion can be inhibited from peeling and comingof f from the lower surface of the lid member. The second press memberis so formed as to press the vicinity of the center in the widthdirection of the upper surface of the paper stored in the cassette body,whereby the second press member can press the center in the widthdirection of the upper surface of the paper, and hence curvature(warpage) in the width direction of the paper can be effectivelysuppressed. Thus, the paper can be inhibited from being carried in theoblique direction due to the warpage in the width direction of thepaper. In addition, the second press member integrally includes the flatportion mounted on the lower surface of the lid member, the inclinedportion integrally bonded with the flat portion on the region other thanthe end in the lower surface of the flat portion, and the press portionprovided on the forward end of the inclined portion, and the pressportion is so formed as to come into contact with the inner bottomsurface of the cassette body when the lid member is located on the upperportion of the cassette body. Thus, no push up mechanism for bringingthe upper surface of the paper into contact with the press portion maybe provided below the paper, whereby the number of components can beinhibited from increase.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the secondaspect, the bonding portion between the inclined portion and the flatportion of the second press member is preferably so formed as to have athickness larger than those of the inclined portion and the flatportion. According to this structure, the mechanical strength of thebonding portion is improved, whereby the bonding portion can beinhibited from breaking also in the case where stress is applied to thebonding portion due to the deformation of the inclined portion when thepress portion of the second press member presses the paper.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the secondaspect, the second press member may be mounted on the lower surface ofthe lid member such that the inclined portion of the second press memberis inclined from the bonding portion between the inclined portion andthe flat portion toward a direction opposite to a paper feed directionof the paper.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the secondaspect, an engaging portion engaging with the flat portion of the secondpress member is preferably integrally provided on the lower surface ofthe lid member. According to this structure, the second press member canbe mounted on the lid member by engaging the flat portion of the secondpress member with the engaging portion of the lid member withoutincreasing the number of the component.

In the aforementioned paper feed cassette according to the secondaspect, the press portion of the second press member is preferably soformed as to be arranged substantially on a line of action of pressingforce in pressing the paper with the first press member in plan view.According to this structure, the first press member can press the paperin the width direction and the second press member can press the uppersurface of the paper along the line of action of the pressing force ofthe first press member in pressing the paper. Therefore, curvature(warpage) in the width direction of the paper can be reliablysuppressed. Thus, the paper can be reliably inhibited from being carriedin the oblique direction due to the warpage in the width direction ofthe paper.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall structure of a paperfeed cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overall structure of a dyesublimation printer mounted with the paper feed cassette according tothe first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing an internal structure of thepaper feed cassette according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 and the dye sublimation printer;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the paper feed cassette according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and the dyesublimation printer;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cassette body of the paper feed cassetteaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the paper feed cassetteaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a structure of a second pressmember according to the first embodiment of the present invention shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a structure of the second pressmember according to the first embodiment of the present invention shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a mounting position of the second pressmember according to the first embodiment of the present invention shownin FIG. 1 on the paper feed cassette;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the pressed second press memberaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view for illustrating a paper feed operation ofthe paper feed cassette according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 and the dye sublimation printer;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of the secondpress member according to a modification of the first embodiment of thepresent invention on the paper feed cassette;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a method of mounting the secondpress member on the paper feed cassette according to a modification ofthe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the second press member accordingto the modification of the first embodiment of the present invention,which is mounted on the paper feed cassette;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a structure of a second pressmember according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a structure of a second press memberaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a structure of a second press memberaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a mounting position of the second pressmember according to the second embodiment of the present invention onthe paper feed cassette;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the pressed second press memberaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a structure of the second pressmember according to a modification of the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a structure of the second press memberaccording to the modification of the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a structure of a second pressmember according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a structure of a second press memberaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view showing a structure of a second press memberaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a mounting position of the second pressmember according to the third embodiment of the present invention to thepaper feed cassette;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view showing the pressed second press memberaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a structure of a second pressmember according to a modification of the third embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a structure of the second press memberaccording to the modification of the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described withreference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, a structure of a paper feed cassetteaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention will be nowdescribed. According to the embodiment, the present invention is appliedto the paper feed cassette of a dye sublimation printer which is anexemplary image generating apparatus.

A paper feed cassette 10 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention is so formed as to be detachably mounted on a dyesublimation printer 20 as shown in FIG. 2.

The paper feed cassette 10 comprises a cassette body 11 made of resin, alift member 12 made of resin and a lid member 13 made of resin as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. The lid member 13 made of resin is provided forinhibiting dust or the like from adhering to papers 50 and slidablymounted on the cassette body 11 as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 3to 7, the cassette body 11 has a pair of engaging portions 11 a (seeFIG. 5) rotatably engaged with the lift member 12, a pair of notches 11b for relieving an after-mentioned pair of paper separating walls 22 b,a notch 11 c for relieving after-mentioned push-up member 25, a pair ofmounting portions 11 d elastically deformably engaged with a dyesublimation printer 20 in mounting the paper feed cassette 10, threeprojecting portions 11 e for aligning a position in a direction B (seeFIG. 3) of the papers 50 (see FIG. 2), a first press member 11 f forurging the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) against the projecting portions 11 e,guide portions 11 g slidably guiding the lid member 13 with respect tothe cassette body 11, and three ribs 11 h extending in a paper feeddirection (along arrow A in FIG. 3) for supporting the papers 50 (seeFIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 6, the pair of mounting portions 11 d is integrallyprovided on the cassette body 11 of the paper feed cassette 10 so as tohave outer protrusions protruding from outer side surfaces of thecassette body 11 of the paper feed cassette 10 respectively. Eachmounting portions lid has a function of fixing the paper feed cassette10 to the dye sublimation printer 20 by engaging with an after-mentionedmounting portion 22 c of the dye sublimation printer 20 when the paperfeed cassette 10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20. Each ofthe three ribs 11 h has a function as a guide for carrying the papers 50(see FIG. 2) in paper feeding and is so formed as to extend from a rearend of the cassette body 11 to the vicinity of a pair of engagingportions 11 a of the cassette body 11.

According to the first embodiment, receiving holes 11 i receiving theengaging portions 12 a of the lift member 12 respectively and platesprings 11 j integrally provided in the cassette body 11 so as toadjacent to the receiving holes 11 i respectively are provided on abottom portion of the cassette body 11 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to7. The lift member 12 is so formed as to engage with the engagingportions 11 a of the cassette body 11 through the receiving holes 11 iby utilizing deflection of the plate springs 11 j. The lift member 12has the pair of engaging portions 12 a engaging with the pair ofengaging portions 11 a of the cassette body 11 and the pair of notches12 b for relieving the pair of paper separating walls 22 b when thepaper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20, asshown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lid member 13 has mount engaging portions13 a engaging with the mounting portions lid of the cassette body 11when the lid member 13 is mounted on the cassette body 11. When thepaper feed cassette 10 is not mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20,the mount engaging portions 13 a of the lid member 13 engage with themounting portions lid of the cassette body 11. On the other hand, whenthe paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20,a user detaches the mount engaging portions 13 a of the lid member 13from the mounting portions lid of the cassette body 11 respectively asshown in FIG. 4. Then the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the dyesublimation printer 20 in a state of sliding the lid member 13 in adirection opposite to the paper feed direction (direction A) withrespect to the cassette body 11 along the guide portions 11 g of thecassette body 11. Thus, the paper feed cassette 10 is formed such thatthe lid member 13 has no influence on the paper feed operation.

According to the first embodiment, a second press member 60 made ofresin pressing an upper surface of the papers 50 against a lower surface13 b of the lid member 13 is provided independently of the lid member 13as shown in FIG. 7. The second press member 60 integrally includes aflat portion 60 a, an elastically deformable inclined portion 60 b and apress portion 60 c as shown in FIG. 8. The inclined portion 60 b isintegrally bonded with the flat portion 60 a at the substantially centerof a lower surface of the flat portion 60 a and extends in a directionoblique to an inner bottom surface 11 k (see FIG. 7) of the cassettebody 11 (see FIG. 7), while the press portion 60 c is provided on aforward end of the inclined portion 60 b.

According to the first embodiment, in the second press member 60, theinclined portion 60 b of the second press member is so mounted on thelower surface of the lid member 13 as to be inclined from a bondingportion 60 d between the inclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 ato a direction opposite to the paper feed direction (along arrow A inFIG. 9) of the papers 50, as shown in FIG. 9.

The flat portion 60 a includes a first region 60 e in which the inclinedportion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a form an obtuse angle and a secondregion 60 f in which the inclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 aform an acute angle, between which the bonding portion 60 d is aboundary.

According to the first embodiment, the bonding portion 60 d between theinclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a of the second pressmember 60 have a thickness larger than the inclined portion 60 b and theflat portion 60 a, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the lid member 13 is mounted on the cassettebody 11, the press portion 60 c of the second press member 60 comesclose to the ribs 11 h on the inner bottom surface 11 k of the cassettebody 11.

According to the first embodiment, the press portion 60 c of the secondpress member 60 has an L-shaped section as shown in FIG. 9. The secondpress member 60 is mounted on the lower surface 13 b of the lid member13 with an adhesive tape 14 (two-sided tape). The adhesive tape 14 is anexample of the “adhesive layer” in the present invention.

According to the first embodiment, the press portion 60 c of the secondpress member 60 is arranged on a line of action 100 (alternate long andshort dash line) of pressing force in pressing the papers 50 with thefirst press member 11 f, at the substantial center in a width directionof the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) of the cassette body 11 in plan view, asshown in FIG. 10.

The dye sublimation printer 20 has a chassis 21 made of metal, a paperfeed cassette mounting portion 22, a paper feed roller 23 made of rubberfor carrying the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) inside the dye sublimationprinter 20, a paper feed roller gear 24, the push-up member 25 pushingup the lift member 12 with the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) stacked thereonand pressing the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) against the paper feed roller23, a sensor portion 26 sensing that the paper feed cassette 10 ismounted on the dye sublimation printer 20, a stepping motor 27 fordriving the paper feed roller 23 and the like, a print head 28 forprinting an image on the papers 50 (see FIG. 2), a stepping motor 29 fordriving a print head press member (not shown) and the push-up member 25pressing the print head 28, a motor bracket 30 for mounting the steppingmotor 27 and the stepping motor 29, a take-up reel 31 for taking up anink sheet (not shown), a swingable swing gear 32, a plurality ofintermediate gears 33 for transmitting driving force of the steppingmotor 27 to the paper feed roller gear 24, discharge rollers 34 made ofrubber and a discharge roller gear 35, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The dye sublimation printer 20 is detachably mounted with an ink sheetcartridge 90 storing the ink sheet (not shown) as shown in FIGS. 3 and4.

The chassis 21 has a first side surface 21 a on which the motor bracket30 is mounted, a second side surface 21 b and a bottom surface 21 cconnecting the first and second side surfaces 21 a and 21 b with eachother, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The second side surface 21 b of thechassis 21 is provided with an ink sheet cartridge receiving hole 21 dfor mounting the ink sheet cartridge 90 storing the ink sheet (notshown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed cassette mounting portion 22 has apair of guide portions 22 a for mounting the paper feed cassette 10 onthe dye sublimation printer 20, a pair of paper separating walls 22 bfor preventing double feeding of the papers 50 (see FIG. 2), and a pairof the mounting portions 22 c engaging with the pair of mountingportions 11 d of the cassette body 11 when the paper feed cassette 10 ismounted on the dye sublimation printer 20. When the paper feed cassette10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20 as shown in FIG. 2, thepair of paper separating walls 22 b are located in the pair of notches11 b of the cassette body 11 and a pair of the notches 12 b of the liftmember 12 as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the paperfeed cassette 10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20, the paperfeed roller 23 is located above the lift member 12 and the push-upmember 25 is located below the lift member 12. The paper feed roller 23has a function of carrying the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) pushed up by thepush-up member 25 inside the dye sublimation printer 20 by rotation. Thepaper feed roller gear 24 is mounted on a first end of the paper feedroller 23, and the paper feed roller 23 is rotated following therotation of the paper feed roller gear 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor portion 26 is located in the vicinity ofthe first end of the paper feed cassette mounting portion 22. The sensorportion 26 has a protrusion 26 a. When the paper feed cassette 10 ismounted on the paper feed cassette mounting portion 22 of the dyesublimation printer 20, the protrusion 26 a is pushed in with the paperfeed cassette 10 as shown in FIG. 4 and therefore the sensor portion 26senses that the paper feed cassette 10 has been mounted. A housing 36includes lid members 36 a and 36, and push-button switches 36 c as shownin FIG. 2. The lid member 36 a of the housing 36 is provided formounting the paper feed cassette 10 on the dye sublimation printer 20.The lid member 36 b of the housing 36 is provided for mounting the inksheet cartridge 90 on the dye sublimation printer. The push-buttonswitches 36 c of the housing 36 is provided as operation buttons usedwhen the user starts printing.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 11, a description will be now made of apressing state of the second press member 60 of the paper feed cassette10 according to the first embodiment with respect to the papers 50.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the case of a small number of the papers 50, thefirst press member 11 f (see FIG. 6) of the cassette body 11 (see FIG.6) presses a side surface of the papers 50, while the press portion 60 cof the second press member 60 presses the upper surface of the papers 50with prescribed pressing force. As shown in FIG. 11, in the case of alarge number of the papers 50 in the second press member 60, in thesecond press member 60, the press portion 60 c presses the upper surfaceof the papers 50 with the prescribed pressing force while the inclinedportion 60 b and the bonding portion 60 d are elastically deformed.

According to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, in the casewhere bending moment M occurs about the bonding portion 60 d between theinclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a of the second pressmember 60 as a central axis with reaction F from the papers 50 when thesecond press member 60 presses the papers 50 in a state of a largenumber of the papers 50, the second region 60 f of the flat portion 60 ain which an angle formed by the inclined portion 60 b and the flatportion 60 a is an acute angle can generate reaction F having adirection to counteract the aforementioned bending moment M. Thus, thedeforming degree of the inclined portion 60 b becomes small in thevicinity of the bonding portion 60 d between the inclined portion 60 band the flat portion 60 a, while the papers 50 are pressed deforming(downwardly curving) the inclined portion 60 b in a region far from thebonding portion 60 d and close to the press portion 60 c in the inclinedportion 60 b.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. 12, a description will be nowmade of a paper feed operation of the paper feed cassette according tothe first embodiment of the present invention and the dye sublimationprinter.

As shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the dyesublimation printer 20 from a state shown in FIG. 3. In the paper feedcassette 10, the papers 50 are stacked on an upper surface of the liftmember 12 as shown in FIG. 5. In the case where the paper feed cassette10 is mounted on the dye sublimation printer 20, the paper feed roller23 is located above the lift member 12 on which the papers 50 arestacked as shown in FIG. 5. The push-up member 25 is located below thelift member 12 (position corresponding to the notch 11 c of the cassettebody 11). In this state, the stepping motor 29 (see FIG. 4) drives. Thedriving force of the stepping motor 29 rotates the push-up member 25through a driving force transfer mechanism (not shown) in a direction E(upward) as shown in FIG. 12. The push-up member 25 is located below thelift member 12 in mounting the paper feed cassette 10, whereby thepush-up member 25 rotates in the direction E (upward), thereby rotatingthe lift member 12 about the engaging portions 12 a in a direction Fshown in FIG. 13. Thus, the papers 50 stacked on the lift member 12 arepushed up to come into contact with the paper feed roller 23.

At this time, the stepping motor 27 (see FIG. 4) also drives and thedriving force of the stepping motor 27 rotates the paper feed rollergear 24 through the plurality of intermediate gears 33 in a direction Gin FIG. 4. Thus, the paper feed roller 23 is rotated in the direction Gas shown in FIG. 12.

The aforementioned pushed up papers 50 are pressed by the paper feedroller 23 rotating in the direction G as shown in FIG. 12. The papers 50are carried inside the dye sublimation printer 20 with frictional forcebetween the paper feed roller 23 and the papers 50.

According to the first embodiment, also during the papers 50 are carried(fed) inside the dye sublimation printer 20, the second press member 60(see FIG. 1) always presses the upper surface of the papers 50, therebyperforming the paper feed operation with no curvature (warpage) in thewidth direction of the papers 50 without any difficulty.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, the secondpress member 60 is integrally bonded with the flat portion 60 a on aregion other than an end in the lower surface of the flat portion 60 amounted on the lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 and extends in anoblique direction toward the inner bottom surface 11 k of the cassettebody 11, and at least the bonding portion 60 d between the flat portion60 a and the inclined portion 60 b integrally includes the elasticallydeformable inclined portion 60 b, whereby the second region 60 f of theflat portion 60 a in which the angle formed by the inclined portion 60 band the flat portion 60 a is an acute angle can generate reaction Fhaving a direction to counteract the aforementioned bending moment M, inthe case where bending moment M occurs about the bonding portion 60 dbetween the inclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a of thesecond press member 60 as a central axis with reaction from the papers50 when the second press member 60 presses the papers 50 in a state of alarge number of the papers 50. Thus, also in the state of a large numberof the papers 50, the flat portion 60 a can be inhibited from peelingand coming off from the lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13. Thesecond press member is formed to press the vicinity of the center in thewidth direction of the upper surface of the papers stored in thecassette body, so that the second press member can press the center inthe width direction of the upper surface of the papers, wherebycurvature (warpage) in the width direction of the papers can beeffectively suppressed. Thus, the papers can be inhibited from beingcarried in the oblique direction due to the warpage in the widthdirection of the papers. In addition, the second press member 60integrally includes the flat portion 60 a mounted on the lower surface13 b of the lid member 13, the inclined portion 60 b integrally bondedwith the flat portion 60 a on the region other than the end in the lowersurface of the flat portion 60 a, and the press portion 60 c provided onthe forward end of the inclined portion 60 b, and the press portion 60 cis so formed as to come into contact with the inner bottom surface 11 kof the cassette body 11 when the lid member 13 is located on an upperportion of the cassette body 11. Thus, no push up mechanism for bringingthe upper surface of the papers 50 into contact with the press portion60 c may be provided below the papers 50, whereby the number ofcomponents can be inhibited from increase.

According to the first embodiment, the press portion 60 c has asubstantially L-shaped section, and is so formed as to linearly pressthe papers with an L-shaped corner, whereby the contact area between thepapers 50 and the press portion 60 c can be reduced, thereby allowingreduce in frictional resistance between the papers 50 and the pressportion 60 c. Thus, it is possible to suppress a paper feed error causedby the frictional resistance between the papers 50 and the press portion60 c in paper feeding, thereby allowing smooth paper feeding.

According to the first embodiment, the flat portion 60 a of the secondpress member 60 is mounted on the lower surface 13 b of the lid member13 with the adhesive tape 14 (two-sided tape), whereby the second pressmember 60 can be easily mounted on the lid member 13.

According to the first embodiment, the inclined portion 60 b is bondedto the substantial center of the flat portion 60 a, whereby it ispossible to increase an area of the region generating the reaction Fhaving the direction counteract the bending moment M in pressing thepapers 50 with the second press member 60. Thus, the flat portion 60 acan be reliably inhibited from peeling and coming off from the lowersurface 13 b of the lid member 13.

According to the first embodiment, the bonding portion 60 d between theinclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a of the second pressmember 60 is so formed as to become larger than the thicknesses of theinclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a, whereby the mechanicalstrength of the bonding portion 60 d is improved. Thus, the bondingportion can be inhibited from breaking also in the case where stress isapplied to the bonding portion 60 d due to the deformation of theinclined portion 60 b when the press portion 60 c of the second pressmember 60 presses the papers 50.

According to the first embodiment, the second press member 60 may beformed such that the inclined portion 60 b is so mounted on the lowersurface of the lid member 13 as to be inclined from the bonding portion60 d between the inclined portion 60 b and the flat portion 60 a to thedirection opposite to the paper feed direction of the papers 50.

According to the first embodiment, the press portion 60 c of the secondpress member 60 is so formed as to be arranged substantially on the lineof action 100 of the pressing force in pressing the papers 50 with thefirst press member 11 f in plan view, whereby the first press member 11f can press the papers 50 in the width direction and the second pressmember 60 can press the upper surface of the papers 50 along the line ofaction 100 of the pressing force of the first press member 11 f inpressing the papers 50. Therefore, curvature (warpage) in the widthdirection of the papers 50 can be reliably suppressed. Thus, the papers50 can be reliably inhibited from being carried in the oblique directiondue to the warpage in the width direction of the papers 50.

According to a modification of the first embodiment, a structure inwhich a second press member 60 is mounted on a lower surface 13 b of alid member 13 is provided as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15.

According to the modification of the first embodiment, a lid member 13is integrally provided with a first engaging portion 13 c, a secondengaging portion 13 d and a coupling portion 13 e so as to protrude fromthe lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 as shown in FIG. 13. Thefirst engaging portion 13 c and the second engaging portion 13 d arecoupled with each other through the coupling portion 13 e as shown inFIG. 14.

A rib 13 f is provided in the vicinity of a first engaging portion 13 cand a second engaging portion 13 d. According to the modification of thefirst embodiment, a first region 60 e and a second region 60 f of a flatportion 60 a of the second press member 60 are fitted into a clearancebetween the first engaging portion 13 c and the lower surface 13 b ofthe lid member 13 and a clearance between the second engaging portion 13d and the lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 respectively bysliding the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 along arrowC while bringing the flat portion 60 a into contact with the rib 13 f asshown in FIG. 14, whereby the second press member 60 is mounted on thelower surface 13 b of the lid member 13. At this time, the first region60 e of the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 is broughtinto contact with an inner surface 13 g of the first engaging portion 13c of the lid member 13. The region second 60 f of the flat portion 60 aof the second press member 60 is brought into contact with a lowersurface 13 h of the second engaging portion 13 d of the lid member 13.An upper surface of the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60is brought into contact with the lower surface 13 b of the lid member13. Thus, the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 is fixedon the lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13. The rib 13 f has afunction of inhibiting the second press member 60 from falling off fromthe lid member 13 in the case of sliding in a falling off direction(direction opposite to a direction C).

According to the modification of the first embodiment, as hereinabovedescribed, an engaging portion constituted by the first engaging portion13 c, the second engaging portion 13 d and the coupling portion 13 eengaged with the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 isintegrally provided on the lower surface of the lid member 13, wherebythe second press member 60 can be mounted on the lid member 13 byengaging the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 with theengaging portion of the lid member 13 without increasing the number ofthe component. The remaining effects of this modification are similar tothose of the first embodiment.

Second Embodiment

A second press member 70 according to a second embodiment has adifferent structure from that of the first embodiment with reference toFIGS. 16 to 19. Structures other than the second press member 70according to the second embodiment are similar to those according to theaforementioned first embodiment, and hence the description thereof willnot be repeated.

According to the second embodiment, a second press member 70 made ofresin pressing an upper surface of papers 50 is provided on a lowersurface 13 b of a lid member 13 independently of the lid member 13 asshown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 16, a flat portion 70 a of the secondpress member 70 includes a first flat portion 71 a on the right and asecond flat portion 71 b on the left, between which a bonding line ofthe flat potion 70 a and the inclined portion 70 b is a boundary line.The second flat portion 71 b is provided with a U-shaped cutout portion70 e in a prescribed region of a bonding portion 70 d between the firstflat portion 71 a and the inclined portion 70 b, and is formed byfolding back an inner region of the U-shaped cutout portion 70 e of thefirst flat portion 71 a by 180 degrees along the bonding line of thebonding portion 70 d. As shown in FIG. 18, a press portion 70 c of thesecond press member 70 is so formed as to come close to ribs 11 h of aninner bottom surface 11 k of the cassette body 11 when the lid member 13is mounted on a cassette body 11. According to the second embodiment,the press portion 70 c of the second press member 70 has an L-shapedsection, and the second press member 70 is mounted on the lower surface13 b of the lid member 13 through an adhesive tape 14 as shown in FIG.18. As shown in FIG. 19, the press portion 70 c of the second pressmember 70 is provided at the center in a width direction of the papers50 (see FIG. 2) of the cassette body 11 on a line of action 100(alternate long and short dash line) pressing the papers 50 from a sidesurface with a first press member 11 f of the cassette body 11.

With reference to FIGS. 18 to 20, a description will be now made of apressing state of the second press member 70 of the paper feed cassette10 according to the second embodiment with respect to the papers 50.

As shown in FIG. 18, in the case of a small number of the papers 50, thefirst press member 11 f (see FIG. 19) of the cassette body 11 (see FIG.19) presses a side surface of the papers 50, while the press portion 70c of the second press member 70 presses the upper surface of the papers50 with prescribed pressing force. As shown in FIG. 20, in the case of alarge number of the papers 50 in the second press member 70, in thesecond press member 70, the press portion 70 c presses the upper surfaceof the papers 50 with the prescribed pressing force while the inclinedportion 70 b and the bonding portion 70 d are elastically deformed.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, in the casewhere bending moment M occurs about the bonding portion 70 d between theinclined portion 70 b and the flat portion 70 a of the second pressmember 70 as a central axis with reaction from the papers 50 when thesecond press member 70 presses the papers 50 in a state of a largenumber of the papers 50, the second flat portion 71 b in which an angleformed by the inclined portion 70 b and the flat portion 70 a is anacute angle can generate reaction F having a direction to counteract theaforementioned bending moment M. Thus, the deforming degree of theinclined portion 70 b is reduced in the vicinity of the bonding portion70 d between the inclined portion 70 b and the flat portion 70 a, whilethe papers 50 are pressed deforming (downwardly curving) the inclinedportion 70 b in a region far from the bonding portion 70 d and close tothe press portion 70 c in the inclined portion 70 b.

A paper feed operation of the paper feed cassette according to thesecond embodiment and the dye sublimation printer is similar to thataccording to the aforementioned first embodiment, and hence thedescription thereof will not be repeated.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the flatportion 70 a of the second press member 70 includes the first flatportion 71 a on the right and the second flat portion 71 b on the left,between which the bonding line of the flat potion 70 a and the inclinedportion 70 b is the boundary line, and the second flat portion 71 b isformed by providing the U-shaped cutout portion 70 e in the prescribedregion of the bonding portion 70 d between the first flat portion 71 aand the inclined portion 70 b and folding back an inner region of theU-shaped cutout portion 70 e of the first flat portion 71 a by 180degrees along the bonding line of the bonding portion 70 d. Thus, it ispossible to easily obtain a structure in which the inclined portion 70 bis integrally bonded on a region other than an end in a lower surface ofthe flat portion 70 a.

According to a modification of the second embodiment, a flat portion 75a of a second press member 75 pressing papers 50 in a paper feedcassette 10 includes a first flat portion 76 a on the right and a secondflat portion 76 b on the left, between which a bonding line of the flatpotion 75 a and the inclined portion 75 b is a boundary line, as shownin FIGS. 21 and 22. The second flat portion 76 b is formed by providinga U-shaped cutout portion 75 e in a prescribed region of a bondingportion 75 d between the first flat portion 76 a and the inclinedportion 75 b and folding back an inner region of the U-shaped cutoutportion 75 e of the first flat portion 76 a by 180 degrees along thebonding line of the bonding portion 75 d. The inclined portion 75 b isinclined toward the first flat portion 76 a dissimilarly to the inclinedportion 70 b of the second press member 70 according to the secondembodiment. Also in this structure, effects similar to the effects inthe second embodiment can be obtained.

Third Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 23 to 26, according to a third embodiment, aninclined portion 80 b of the second press member 80 is supported by asupport portion 80 f dissimilarly to the aforementioned first and secondembodiments. Structures other than the second press member 80 accordingto the third embodiment are similar to those according to theaforementioned first embodiment, and hence the description thereof willnot be repeated.

In a paper feed cassette 10 according to the third embodiment, a secondpress member 80 made of resin pressing an upper surface of papers 50 isprovided on a lower surface 13 b of a lid member 13 independently of thelid member 13 as shown in FIG. 25. The second press member 80 includesthe support portion 80 f integrally bonded with a first flat portion 81a on an end on a lower surface of the first flat portion 81 a, extendinga direction oblique to the inclined portion 80 b and bonding with theinclined portion 80 b. The support portion 80 f supports an inclinedportion 80 c by engaging a pair of engaging portions 80 h provided onends of the support portion 80 f with a pair of notches 80 g provided inthe inclined portion 80 b

As shown in FIG. 25, a press portion 80 c of the second press member 80is so formed as to come close to ribs 11 h on an inner bottom surface 11k of the cassette body 11 when the lid member 13 is mounted on acassette body 11.

According to the third embodiment, the press portion 80 c of the secondpress member 80 has an L-shaped section and the second press member 80is mounted on the lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 with anadhesive tape 14 as shown in FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 26, the pressportion 80 c of the second press member 80 is provided at the center ina width direction of the papers 50 (see FIG. 2) of the cassette body 11on a line of action 100 (alternate long and short dash line) pressingthe papers 50 from a side surface with a first press member 11 f of thecassette body 11.

With reference to FIGS. 25 and 27, a description will be now made of apressing state of the second press member 80 of the paper feed cassette10 according to the third embodiment with respect to the papers 50.

As shown in FIG. 25, in the case of a small number of the papers 50, thepress portion 80 c of the second press member 80 presses the uppersurface of the papers 50 with prescribed pressing force. As shown inFIG. 27, in the case of a large number of the papers 50 in the secondpress member 80, the press portion 80 c presses the upper surface of thepapers 50 with the prescribed pressing force while the inclined portion80 b and a bonding portion 80 d are elastically deformed.

According to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27, in the casewhere bending moment M occurs about the bonding portion 80 d between theinclined portion 80 b and the flat portion 80 a of the second pressmember 80 as a central axis with reaction from the papers 50 when thesecond press member 80 presses the papers 50 in a state of a largenumber of the papers 50, the second flat portion 81 b in which an angleformed by the inclined portion 80 b and the flat portion 80 a is anacute angle can generate reaction F having a direction to counteract theaforementioned bending moment M. Thus, the deforming degree of theinclined portion 80 b is reduced in the vicinity of the bonding portion80 d between the inclined portion 80 b and the flat portion 80 a, whilethe papers 50 are pressed deforming (downwardly curving) the inclinedportion 80 b in a region far from the bonding portion 80 d and close tothe press portion 80 c in the inclined portion 80 b.

A paper feed operation of the paper feed cassette according to the thirdembodiment and the dye sublimation printer is similar to that accordingto the aforementioned first embodiment, and hence the descriptionthereof will not be repeated.

According to the third embodiment, as hereinabove described, the secondpress member 80 includes the support portion 80 f integrally bonded withthe first flat portion 81 a on the end of the first flat portion 81 a,extending the oblique direction toward the inclined portion 80 b andsupporting the inclined portion 80 b, so that the inclined portion 80 bof the second press member 80 is supported by the support portion 80 f,thereby improving rigidity of the inclined portion 80 b. Thus, in thecase where the second press member 80 presses the papers 50 especiallyin a state of a large number of the papers 50, displacement (deformingdegree) of the inclined portion 80 b in the bonding portion 80 d betweenthe inclined portion 80 b and the first flat portion 81 a can bereduced, whereby a basic form of the inclined portion 80 b can be easilyheld.

According to a modification of the third embodiment, a second pressmember 85 pressing the papers 50 in the paper feed cassette 10 isprovided with a support portion 85 f integrally bonded with a first flatportion 86 a on an end on a lower surface of the first flat portion 86a, extending an oblique direction toward the inclined portion 85 b andbonding with the inclined portion 85 b. The support portion 85 f isbonded with an inclined portion 85 b by engaging a pair of engagingportions 85 h provided on ends of the support portion 85 f with a pairof notches 85 g provided in the inclined portion 85 b. While theinclined portion 85 b is inclined toward the first flat portion 86 adissimilarly to the inclined direction of the inclined portion 80 b ofthe second press member 80 according to the third embodiment, effectssimilar to those in the third embodiment can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

For example, while the aforementioned embodiments are applied to thepaper feed cassette of the dye sublimation printer employed as anexemplary image generating apparatus, the present invention is notrestricted to this but is also applicable to a paper feed cassette of animage generating apparatus other than the dye sublimation printer.

While the press portion 60 c of the second press member 60 has theL-shaped section in the aforementioned first embodiment, the presentinvention is not restricted to this but may alternatively have aU-shaped section.

While the flat portion 60 a of the second press member 60 is mounted onthe lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 with the adhesive tape 14(two-sided tape) in the aforementioned first embodiment, the presentinvention is not restricted to this but may be alternatively mounted onthe lower surface 13 b of the lid member 13 with an adhesive or thelike.

While the inclined portion 60 b is bonded at the substantial center ofthe flat portion 60 a in the aforementioned first embodiment, thepresent invention is not restricted to this but the inclined portion 60b and the flat portion 60 a may be alternatively bonded with each otherat a dividing line dividing the flat portion 60 a such that the area ofthe first region 60 e in which the angle formed by the inclined portion60 b and the flat portion 60 a between which the bonding portion 60 d isa boundary is an obtuse angle is larger than that of the second region60 f in which the angle formed by the inclined portion 60 b and the flatportion 60 a is an acute angle.

While the second press member 60 made of resin is mounted on the lowersurface 13 b of the lid member 13 in the aforementioned firstembodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this but a secondpress member 60 made of metal may be alternatively mounted on the lowersurface 13 b of the lid member 13.

1. A paper feed cassette comprising: a cassette body mounted on an imagegenerating apparatus including a paper feed roller and storing a paper;a first press member provided on at least a first side surface insidesaid cassette body and pressing a side surface of said paper when saidpaper is stored; a lid member arranged on an upper portion of saidcassette body; and a second press member provided independently of saidlid member, mounted on a lower surface of said lid member, and pressingthe vicinity of the center in a width direction of an upper surface ofsaid paper stored in said cassette body, wherein said second pressmember integrally includes: a flat portion mounted on said lower surfaceof said lid member, an inclined portion integrally bonded with said flatportion on a region other than an end in a lower surface of said flatportion, extending in an oblique direction toward an inner bottomsurface of said cassette body, and having at least an elasticallydeformable bonding portion between said inclined portion and said flatportion, and a press portion provided on a forward end of said inclinedportion, and said press portion is brought into contact with said innerbottom surface of said cassette body when said lid member is arranged onsaid upper portion of said cassette body.
 2. The paper feed cassetteaccording to claim 1, wherein said press portion is so formed as to havea substantially L-shaped section and linearly press said paper with acorner of said L-shape.
 3. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1,wherein said flat portion of said second press member is mounted on saidlower surface of said lid member with an adhesive layer.
 4. The paperfeed cassette according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion isbonded at the substantial center of said flat portion.
 5. The paper feedcassette according to claim 1, wherein said flat portion of said secondpress member includes a first flat portion on the right and a secondflat portion on the left, between which a bonding line between said flatportion and said inclined portion is a boundary line, and said secondflat portion is formed by providing a U-shaped cutout portion in aprescribed region of a bonding portion between said first flat portionand said inclined portion and folding back an inner region of saidU-shaped cutout portion of said first flat portion along said bondingline of said bonding portion.
 6. The paper feed cassette according toclaim 8, wherein said second press member includes a support portionintegrally coupled with said first flat portion on an end of said firstflat portion, extending in an oblique direction toward said inclinedportion, and supporting said inclined portion.
 7. The paper feedcassette according to claim 1, wherein said bonding portion between saidinclined portion and said flat portion of said second press member is soformed as to have a thickness larger than those of said inclined portionand said flat portion.
 8. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1,wherein said second press member is mounted on said lower surface ofsaid lid member such that said inclined portion of said second pressmember is inclined from said bonding portion between said inclinedportion and said flat portion toward a direction opposite to a paperfeed direction of said paper.
 9. The paper feed cassette according toclaim 5, wherein an engaging portion engaging with said flat portion ofsaid second press member is integrally provided on said lower surface ofsaid lid member.
 10. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1,wherein said press portion of said second press member is so formed asto be arranged substantially on a line of action of pressing force inpressing said paper with said first press member in plan view.
 11. Apaper feed cassette comprising: a cassette body mounted on an imagegenerating apparatus including a paper feed roller and storing a paper;a lid member arranged on an upper portion of said cassette body; a firstpress member provided on at least a first side surface inside saidcassette body and pressing a side surface of said paper when said paperis stored; and a second press member provided independently of said lidmember, mounted on a lower surface of said lid member, and pressing thevicinity of the center in a width direction of an upper surface of saidpaper stored in said cassette body, wherein said second press memberintegrally includes: a flat portion mounted on said lower surface ofsaid lid member, an inclined portion integrally bonded with said flatportion on a region other than an end in a lower surface of said flatportion, extending in an oblique direction toward an inner bottomsurface of said cassette body, and having at least an elasticallydeformable bonding portion between said inclined portion and said flatportion, and a press portion provided on a forward end of said inclinedportion, said press portion is brought into contact with said innerbottom surface of said cassette body when said lid member is arranged onsaid upper portion of said cassette body, said press portion is soformed as to have a substantially L-shaped section and linearly presssaid paper with a corner of said L-shape, said flat portion of saidsecond press member is mounted on said lower surface of said lid memberwith an adhesive layer, and said inclined portion is bonded at thesubstantial center of said flat portion.
 12. The paper feed cassetteaccording to claim 11, wherein said bonding portion between saidinclined portion and said flat portion of said second press member is soformed as to have a thickness larger than those of said inclined portionand said flat portion.
 13. The paper feed cassette according to claim11, wherein said second press member is mounted on said lower surface ofsaid lid member such that said inclined portion of said second pressmember is inclined from said bonding portion between said inclinedportion and said flat portion toward a direction opposite to a paperfeed direction of said paper.
 14. The paper feed cassette according toclaim 11, wherein an engaging portion engaging with said flat portion ofsaid second press member is integrally provided on said lower surface ofsaid lid member.
 15. The paper feed cassette according to claim 11,wherein said press portion of said second press member is so formed asto be arranged substantially on a line of action of pressing force inpressing said paper with said first press member in plan view.